LDS Scout Collapses, Dies on Hike, Family Remembers Him on Birthday 2 Days Later

Douglas Jeffery Julian, who died Saturday of apparent altitude sickness while on a Boy Scout outing in the High Uintas, would have turned 18 on Sunday.

"An amazing son! Wonderful friend! A great man! We are truly blest to be able to have Doug for 18 wonderful years. A 'huge' body to hold such a 'huge' heart! 'Huge' loss! Thank you to all who have reached out to us … we feel the love and prayers. Doug is acutely missed and will be for all our earthly lives," Doug's mother, Tracy Julian posted on Facebook on Sunday.

Doug Julian's Scout troop was camping in the Chain Lakes area in Krebs Basin on Thursday when he began to complain about a headache and nausea, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office. On Friday, he was still sick, prompting Scout leaders to pack up camp early Saturday and hike back to the trailhead in Uinta Canyon north of Neola, Duchesne County.

But Doug Julian lost consciousness and collapsed as the troop began hiking out, just 50 yards from their campsite, according to the sheriff's office.